Osteopath for Sciatica

If you suffer from lower back pain that extends down into your buttocks and legs so that the pain in your legs is as bad (if not worse) that your back pain, then you are potentially suffering from sciatica. Sciatica occurs when your sciatic nerve becomes compressed. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body and it extends from your lower back, where it is positioned within your spinal canal, to your feet. Sciatica can be acute (lasting for less than 6 weeks) or chronic (lasting for more than 6 weeks) and the pain can be at various different levels depending on the cause and the extent of the pressure on your sciatic nerve.

Common Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica can be caused by a number of different mechanisms such as a slipped disc, a number of spinal diseases or spinal injury. Basically anything that produces pressure on the sciatic nerve is a potential cause of sciatica. Older people are more at risk from developing sciatica due to increased wear on their spinal cord.

Diagnosis and Osteopathic Treatment for Sciatica

Your osteopath will be able to tell you if you are suffering from sciatica and they will also try to identify the cause of your sciatica. Osteopathic treatment will aim to remove the cause of your sciatica. Your osteopath may use massage to release the pressure from the sciatic nerve by moving the soft tissue around it and providing more support for the surrounding structures. Your osteopathic treatment will increase your range of motion in your lower back region in order to reduce the likelihood of your sciatica reoccurring.

Your osteopath will be able to offer you advice on how to alter your posture so that you reduce your risk of re-trapping your sciatic nerve. This could include advice on how to lift heavy objects (especially if you job or hobbies involve this activity) as well as advice on the best way to sleep, stand and sit.